Expression of CD44V6 in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

Objective To study the expression of CD44V6 in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung ( SCC) and the correlation between the CD44V6 positive expression and the carcinogenesis and development of SCC. Methods Using immunohistochemistry avidin biotin peroxidase complex ( ABC) method, CD44V6 protein expression was detected in the fresh cancer tissues and normal tissues adjacent to cancer from 35 patients with SCC. Results CD44V6 presented high expression in cancer tissues ( 65. 7%, 23/ 35) , but it was not detected in the normal tissues adjacent to cancer (χ2 = 34. 3, P 0. 05) . There was a distinct difference in CD44V6 expression between stage I + II ( 50%, 10/ 20) and stage III + IV ( 86. 7%, 13/15) (χ2= 5. 1, P < 0. 01) with a tendency of higher stage with higher expression of CD44V6. The 3-year survival rate in patients with CD44V6 positive expression ( 30. 4%, 7/ 23) was significantly lower than that in patients without CD44V6 expression ( 66. 7%, 8/ 12) (χ2 = 4. 2, P < 0. 05) . Conclusion The results suggest that CD44V6 may play an important role in the carcinogenesis and the development of SCC and that routine assessment of CD44V6 expression may be valuable for deciding TNM stage of SCC. CD44V6 is considered as an indicator of prognosis for patients with SCC of the lung . DOI: 10.3779/j.issn.1009-3419.2001.05.15